Yesterday, deputies responding to a felony hit-and-run call in the unincorporated area of Thousand Palms found themselves in the crossfire, leaving both a deputy and the suspect injured, says the Riverside Sheriff's Office.
The deputies pulled a vehicle over with two subjects linked to the hit-and-run. The passenger fired on the deputies, triggering the deputy-involved shooting. Refusing to comply with law enforcement commands, the suspect barricaded themselves in the vehicle. The Riverside Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, along with California Highway Patrol and several other agencies, arrived to support.
The suspect's gunfire struck a deputy, who was rushed to a local hospital, says the Riverside Sheriff's Office. The deputy remains in stable condition. The suspect, also injured by gunfire, was arrested along with the driver, who was booked on an outstanding felony warrant.
As per Department policy, the involved deputies will be placed on administrative leave. The overarching investigation into the incident will be led by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the California Highway Patrol. With the investigation ongoing, authorities are calling for anyone with relevant information to contact District Attorney Investigator Mario Moreno.
